Entrance Examination, Osler

The academy looked even more impressive from the inside than from the outside. The main road was wide and smooth, paved with bluestone slabs.

Tall parasol trees were planted on both sides, their canopies blocking out the sky and sun.

On either side of the road stood rows of orderly buildings with gray walls and black tiles, their windows bright and clean. Occasionally, a few students in school uniforms could be seen walking by in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.

In the distance, there was an open playground where people could vaguely be seen moving about.

"As expected of the capital. The environment here is far better than the academy in Notting City, and it's not much worse than the schools from my past life."

Wang Xian looked at the environment, which was almost identical to the schools of his previous life, and couldn't help but sigh.

He hadn't walked far along the main road when he saw a signpost by the side of the path.

Following the guard's instructions, he turned right at the intersection and passed through a row of street trees, revealing a row of low, single-story houses.

This was where the freshman assessment took place.

Compared to the rest of the academy, this area seemed much more deserted.

There was no one coming or going, only a small house standing there in isolation. The door was half-open, and the shadows of tables and chairs could be vaguely seen inside.

Just as Wang Xian reached the doorway, a middle-aged man walked out.

The man wore a silver-white robe, his hair and beard groomed neatly and meticulously; he looked like a person who did things with great rigor.

He saw Wang Xian, let his gaze linger on him for a moment, and asked, "Are you here for the entrance assessment?"

Wang Xian bowed slightly, his tone respectful: "Yes."

The middle-aged man nodded without asking further questions and turned to shout into the house.

"Osler, come out. Someone else is here for the assessment."

"Coming, Teacher Lin!" a voice immediately replied from inside.

Then, a boy ran out. He looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in black, with features even more delicate than a girl's.

After Osler walked out, he looked at Wang Xian with a surprised expression, then turned to ask the middle-aged man: "Teacher Lin, is he here for the assessment? He looks only seven or eight years old."

Wang Xian looked at the boy who had run out of the house, a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

He had some impression of the name Osler.

Could this person be the Osler from the future Heaven Dou Royal Team?

In the future Heaven Dou Royal Team, there was a member named Osler whose Martial Soul was a Ghost Leopard, a speed-type Soul Master.

Judging by this person's age and attire, it was highly likely to be him.

"He says he's here for the assessment. Being able to get this far proves he has already verified his status as a one-ring Soul Master," Teacher Lin said calmly.

Hearing this, Osler didn't say anything more.

A seven or eight-year-old one-ring Soul Master was not common even in Heaven Dou City; this little guy was not simple.

He looked at Wang Xian and said, "To enter the Heaven Dou Intermediate Academy, you must hold out for fifty moves against someone three levels higher than you."

"However, you are only level 14 and I am level 18, which is four levels higher, so let's reduce it to forty moves. If you can hold out, you stay."

Wang Xian's expression was calm as he nodded.

"Alright, the rules are set. Begin." Teacher Lin stepped back a few paces, clearing the space.

The two stood at opposite ends of the open ground, their eyes meeting as they both gathered their strength.

Osler let out a low shout, and a layer of black light emerged on the surface of his body.

His eyes turned into vertical pupils with a ghostly green luster, and the nails on his ten fingers grew an inch long, curved like hooks, and shone with a cold, hard metallic luster.

His figure seemed to grow taller, and the muscle lines were vaguely visible under his black clothes; he looked like a leopard ready to pounce.

Two Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, one white and one yellow, with the yellow one being exceptionally bright.

Wang Xian did not hesitate, spreading his right hand as a pale green light surged from his palm.

Blue Silver Grass extended out, swaying gently in front of him, and a yellow Soul Ring rose from his feet, rhythmically circling his body.

Teacher Lin and Osler were both stunned for a moment.

"Blue Silver Grass?" Teacher Lin frowned, muttering to himself, "Can Blue Silver Grass even be cultivated to the first ring?"

Osler also stared at the pale green vines. Although the color was different from ordinary Blue Silver Grass, the form was clearly that of Blue Silver Grass.

A Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, cultivating to level 14 at seven or eight years old and even obtaining a century-old Soul Ring—he had never heard of such a thing.

But surprise aside, the assessment had to continue.

Osler kicked off the ground, turning into a black shadow. His speed was extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, he rushed in front of Wang Xian.

His sharp claws carried the sound of wind as they aimed straight for Wang Xian's shoulder; after all, it was just an assessment, so he didn't aim for any vital points.

Wang Xian's expression remained unchanged. With a thought, Blue Silver Grass surged wildly from his palm, spreading out in all directions to wrap himself tightly in a 360-degree defense with no blind spots.

The vines intertwined in the air to form an airtight net, leaving no gaps at all.

Logically, when faced with such all-encompassing defense, the wise move would be to retreat and observe.

But Osler looked at the vines, which were no different from ordinary Blue Silver Grass, and felt a bit of contempt in his heart. How strong could a piece of broken grass be?

He did not retreat, swinging his sharp claws directly toward the vines.

"Sshh--"

The claw blades sliced across the vines, emitting a dull thud. The scene Osler had envisioned of the vines snapping did not occur.

Instead, a massive counter-shock force traveled back from his fingertips, vibrating his palms until they went numb.

The azure vines merely swayed, leaving only a shallow white mark on the surface; they hadn't even broken the skin.

"How is this possible?" Osler's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

In the split second he was stunned, the Blue Silver Grass had already coiled up his arms.

Several vines, as agile as snakes, bypassed his wrists, wrapped around his forearms, and then tightened abruptly.

Osler felt his arms grow heavy. Before he could even struggle, more vines had coiled around his legs, winding layer upon layer to bind him firmly.

The next second, the vines gave a violent yank. Osler stumbled, his entire body pulled down to the ground, landing hard on his back with a solid thud.

He was startled, but his reaction was not slow.

The yellow Soul Ring behind him suddenly flared, and a layer of black light surfaced over the claws on his hands. The already sharp claws became even more lethal, with a faint sensation of tearing through the air.

He swung his black-glowing claws, hacking fiercely at the Blue Silver Grass binding his legs.

"Sshh-la!"

This time, the Blue Silver Grass could not hold up. The vines were torn apart under the black claw blades, snapping into several pieces.

Osler scrambled to his feet, putting force into his legs as he tried to retreat, wanting to get as far away from these bizarre Blue Silver Grass as possible.

"Want to run? It's not that easy." Wang Xian smiled faintly.